Jay
he/him
5.0
(9)
Timezone
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Identity
About Jay
I’m Jay, a 35-year-old Dungeon Master with just over 13 years of experience behind the screen. At my core, I’ve always been a creator. Long before dice and character sheets entered my life, I found joy in scouring my imagination to build worlds, shape characters, and tell stories. That passion started in my youth through written roleplay and collaborative storytelling on online forums, where narratives were shared, challenged, and brought to life together. That desire to create followed me into adulthood and eventually led me to Dungeons & Dragons; where it promptly took hold of me and never let go. Since then, I’ve fallen happily into the deep end of all things D&D: far too many sets of dice, boxes filled with trinkets and books, an unreasonable number of Patreon subscriptions, and countless hours spent crafting homebrew items, mechanics, and classes designed to serve the stories I want to tell at the table. I run games for players of all experience levels, but I’ve found I have a particular niche when it comes to introducing new players to the game. I take pride in creating a space where learning D&D feels natural rather than overwhelming, where the rules support the story instead of getting in the way. My tables are built on patience, clarity, and collaboration, ensuring everyone feels comfortable, confident, and genuinely excited to play.
At a glance
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, Inclusive
Average response time: 23 hours
Response rate: 100%
Featured Prompts
I got started GMing...
after participating in my first ever game of D&D. After just one session I knew that I wanted to be the person behind the screen, creating the stories and prepping the combats.
People are always surprised when I tell them
People are always surprised when I tell them how much prep I throw away every session; and how happy I am when it happens.
When I'm not running games I'm...
When I’m not running games I’m writing short stories, getting lost in cozy games, and occasionally subjecting myself to the harrowing emotional climb that is League of Legends. You’ll also usually find me hanging out with my two dogs, who are very convinced they’re the real party leaders.
How Jay runs games
While I absolutely love heavy, intense, high-stakes combat, I’m also very intentional about when it appears in the story. A sudden ambush on the road or a run-in with a band of thieves can be great fun, but too much unnecessary combat can make a game feel chunky; dragging sessions out and pulling focus away from the players’ wider goals. For me, combat is at its best when it serves the narrative rather than interrupts it. Because of that, I aim to make every fight feel relevant, meaningful, and rewarding. When swords are drawn or spells are cast, it matters, either to the story, the characters, or the world around them. Role-play is the primary focus of my games, and social options are always on the table. Violence is never the only solution unless the players choose it to be. I encourage and genuinely enjoy all forms of role-play, whether it’s subtle character moments, tense negotiations, emotional confrontations, or clever problem-solving. Strong role-play is recognised and rewarded at my table, because I believe the most memorable moments in any campaign are born from the choices characters make, not just the enemies they defeat.
Featured Prompts
I prep by
I prep by building the bones of the world, the motivations of its people, and the consequences of player choice, then letting the table decide which direction the story actually walks in.
Rules are...
Rules are the framework that keeps the world standing, not the cage that stops it from breathing.
When it comes to voices
When it comes to voices, commitment beats talent every time; I’d rather hear a wildly inconsistent accent delivered with confidence than a perfect one used once and abandoned forever.
Jay's ideal table
My ideal table is collaborative, respectful, and story-driven; a space where everyone is invested in telling a great story together, not competing for the spotlight. Players at my table are engaged with both the world and each other. They care about their characters, listen during role-play, and build on what others bring to the scene. Character conflict can exist, but it’s intentional, consensual, and rooted in narrative, not disruption. Everyone understands that D&D works best as a team effort. Role-play sits at the heart of the experience. Social encounters, emotional moments, clever problem-solving, and meaningful choices are just as important as combat; often more so. When fights do happen, they feel earned: high-stakes, relevant, and impactful rather than frequent for the sake of it. Combat is exciting because it matters. My ideal table is also welcoming and safe. New players feel supported rather than overwhelmed, experienced players feel trusted and challenged, and everyone knows their boundaries will be respected. Communication is open, feedback is welcome, and issues are handled calmly and privately. Above all, it’s a table where people show up excited to play, leave sessions talking about their favourite moments, and feel confident that their time, creativity, and comfort are valued.
Featured Prompts
I am for a vibe that's...
I am for a vibe that’s collaborative, character-driven, and just unhinged enough that serious emotional moments can exist right alongside terrible accents, found family chaos, and someone absolutely committing to a bad decision because "it’s what my character would do" but in the best way possible.
I love it when a player
I love it when a player completely derails an encounter with one perfectly timed sentence, bypasses three pages of prep, an enemy stat block, and my emotional attachment to the fight… then slowly looks up at me like, "That was allowed, right?"
I think it's a red flag when players...
I think it’s a red flag when players treat D&D like something to win instead of something to experience; when rules knowledge matters more than the story, spotlight matters more than the party, and every decision is about optimisation instead of immersion.
Jay's Preferences
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